Bookbinding



b- 1941- R. A. WlLLlAMS 2,230,634

I BOOKBINDING Filed Oct. 27, 1957 fiobertfllon/zo WLZlLa/rzs /l///////////// l 29 VENTOR. Z4 28 27 j BY 12% 17/5 ATTORNEY.

iatented Feb. 4, 1941 v UNITED STATES wan.

FATE 'i' QFFHCE 17 Claims.

This invention pertains to the bookbinding arts and especially to edition bookbinding, one of the important objects being the provision of a simplified method and means for binding books or leaf matter in edition style and eliminating the long used practices of stitching and gluing as Well as other expensive operations such as rounding and backing, and casing-in, all of which require highly skilled operators and elaborate machinery.

Another object is the provision of a method of binding books and the like in which the gathered leaves are provided with especially formed slots or cut-out portions along the binding edge, and substantially rigid key members or inserts re fitted into the slots, a rigid backbone of' hardened mouldable material thereafter being moulded or formed on the binding edge and as to bind the leaves to the backbone.

Another object is the provision of a book formed by gathering the leaves either in single sheets or folded signatures and placing bin-ding inserts in cut-out portions along the binding edge and moulding a rigid backbone onto this edge and the inserts so that the inserts are firmly secured to 'the'backbone, the leaves in turn being secured by the inserts. Yet another object is the provision of a book formed as aforesaid and in which the inserts either extend obliquely into the sheets in opposite directions or extend laterally through the sheets along the binding edge, the backbone being formed of a plastic or other mouldable material which hardens into a substantially rigid homogeneous mass firmly attached to or keyed to the inserts so as to secure the sheets to the backbone.

Still another object is the provision of a book bound in edition style by inserts or key members engaged in the binding edge of the leaves or signatures and exposed through the hinge portion of a pair of covers for permanent attachment to, or engagement in, a rigid backbone member moulded on the binding edge over the hinge portion of the covers.

Other novel aspects and objects of the invention will appear as the following description proceeds in View of the drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a book bound in accordance with the invention and showing :part of the backbone cut away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical side section through a form of mold with the book form and inserts in position for moulding the backbone;

securely gripping the key members or inserts so Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of one form of keying insert; it is viewed along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '4 is a fragmentary end perspective of a book form and, easing with another form of key in place for moulding;

Fig. 5 is a side perspective of another form of key insert;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side section along a vertical plane through the middle of a book bound by laterally extending post inserts of the type shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary end section through the lateral or post form ofinsert as seen along lines 7-l of Fig. 6, while Fig. 8 is an end perspective of the lateral 'or post type of insert.

In the embodiment 'of the invention as I have chosen to illustrate it in Fig. 1, a plurality 'of leaves are folded into signatures Ill and gathered in book form or outline, and along the binding edge of the form (Fig. 2') there are a plurality of oppositely inclined oblique slots extending laterally across the binding edge into the leaves, as indicated at l I.

The oblique slots I I may be formed in a number of ways, as for example by cutting or sawing into the gathered leaves or signatures when they are in book form, the form being placed for this purpose in some form 'of vise, or the individual sheets may be punched before they are gathered and thereafter assembled with the slots or cutout portions H in register.

After the form is made up or gathered, it is cased-in between a pair of cover boards [2 (Fig. 1) suitably covered over with a casing cloth l3 which provides an intervening hinge portion M. It is to be understood that any form of hinge may be attached to the 'covers I2 in the various Ways known to the art, that shown being one preferred form.

The hinge portion i4 is also provided at some stage of the manufacture with slots or openings in the region indicated at 15, and adapted to register with the insert slo'ts II in the sheets, so that keying inserts It (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) may be inserted in each of the slots with the three upper or outer adjoining edge portions of the several inserts exposed through the registered inge slots or openings I5 for engagement with the backbone.

Having provided the cased-in form with inserts or keys (of whatever type), it is placed in a mold (Fig. 2) having a mold cavity or channel I! shaped to fit snugly over the binding edge of the book. In the form of mold illustrated in Fig. 2, there are two complementary sections I8 and I9 divisible laterally along a line 20 so that the opposite ends of the binding edge of the form may slide into the cavity II as the two sections I8 and I9 are closed together in the condition seen in Fig. 2 with the binding edge of the book firmly in the cavity. In order to hold the form rigidly (especially where pressure moulding is employed), it is clamped between a pair of vise plates ZI (only one of which is seen in Fig. 2) which fit against the outsides of each of the two cover members, and the upper edge portions 22 of which fit closely against the mold.

When the mold sections and vise are clamped in position as aforesaid, some form of moulding substance in the form of a plastic, fluid, or gel, is forced into the mold cavity II by the piston 23 in an injector cylinder 24 threaded into the mold section I8 so as to be near the middle of the cavity, the moulding substance entering the cavity under more or less pressure (depending upon the kind used) through an orifice 25.

The moulding material may be chosen from a variety of commercially known moulding products, for example aldehydes and phenols and synthetic resins known under the familiar appellation of Bakelite; or cellulose nitrate compositions such as Celluloid or pyralin; or various plastic and thermoplastic moulding materials including cellulose acetate mixed with a plasticizer.

In general, the particular kind of plastic or moulding composition is of importance only insofar as particular manufacturing requirements are concerned, the moulding art providing materials to meet practically any of these requirements. In the present instance, it is merely required that this moulding material be injected into the mould and allowed to set or harden or become 'rigidified, and for present purposes the moulding composition, whether a fluid thermoplastic, gel or the like, is fed into the injector cylinder 24 through a feed line 26, being (when necessary) pre-heated, and thereafter taking its set in the mold.

When the moulded backbone has hardened or set, the mold is opened and the book withdrawn and finished-01f or polished, the finished book' having the general appearance seen in Fig. 1 wherein it is observed that the backbone 21 is in the form of a shell having a back 28 and opposite adjoining sidewalls 29, and it may be remarked that these sidewalls are preferably kept as shallow as possible to allow the book to open flat or nearly so.

Attention is also called to the fact that the rear longitudinal edges 30 of both cover boards (seealso Fig. '7) larebeveled further to permit free opening of the book and covers, andthe long edges of the sidewall portions 29 of the backbone are desirably rounded as at 29 in Fig. '7 to this same end. I

Thetype of key insert used in the arrangement'of Fig. 1 is shown ingreater detail in 'Fig. 3, and is preferably in the form of a flat piece of 'metal I5,'longitudinally as wide (or slightly wider) "than the lateral width of the binding edge when cased-in, and laterally as wide as the depth of the slots I I (or slightly wider so as to stand out a little). The opposite long edges 3I-3I' of these inserts are oppositely beveled so as to dispose these edge portions in parallel planes substantially parallel to the average plane of the. binding edge, the latter being slightly rounded in the edition style of binding.

Along or in the top insert edge 3I and two adjoining side edges 32 thereof, there are stamped inwardly flared locking slots 33 into which the backbone material fiows or is forced when the assembled form is in the die or mold, so that when the moulding material hardens, the key inserts are firmly gripped by the backbone.

In Fig, 5 there is shown a modified form of the key insert of Fig. 3, in which the tongue or oblique insert part 34 has its upper portion divided and bent over to provide oppositely extending tabs or flanges 35 adapted to lie flush against the binding edge when the insert is positioned in the slot II, the exposed edge portions of this form of insert also having inwardly flared locking notches 36, interlocking with the backbone as in the case of the insert of Fig. 3. 7

In Fig. 4 I show a type of key disclosed in my co-pending U. S. application Serial No. 85,471, filed June 16, 1936, for Bookbinding means, which has matured into Patent No. 2,106,511. This type of key comprises a channel-shaped piece of metal 31 having a top surface 38 and opposite adjoining sides 39, there being provided in these top and side portions a plurality of formations, such as the holes 40, into which the plastic or other backbone material flows so as to grip the key firmly when hardened.

This key 31 has an oblique rigid tongue ll (see cut-away portion of Fig. 4) which extends into one of the slots II, the rest of the key, that is the top and sides thereof, fitting closely around or onto the binding edge of the form. The backbone is cast-on in a mold or by any other desired method, as in the illustration of Fig. 2. When the backbone is set, it will be apparent that the keys 3! will be immovable relative to the backbone, the oblique tongue portions II of the several keys preventing any one of the keys from leaving their respective slots because of their opposite divergent or convergent inclinations, and the keys of necessity having to move in opposite directions in order to leave the slots. The backbone holds the keys firmly against any kind of displacement.

It may be observed that the lower edge portions 42 of the sidewalls 39 of the keys 3! are turned outwardly slightly, the purpose of' this being to insure against any possible lateral movement of the keys out of the backbone channel or shell due to unusual shocks or stresses to which the backbone or book might be subjected.

Illustrative of still another form of binding insert or key, is the simple plug or post 45 of Fig. 8, which may be of any elongated shape and of any suitable and substantially rigid material, such as the cylindrical metal piece shown, the opposite axial ends of which are provided with looking recesses 46 into which the plastic or other moulding material will flow and become locked when set.

Either prior or subsequent to the gathering of the leaves or signatures I0 into book form, they are provided with a plurality of lateral holes or punches positioned as at M (Fig. 6) along the binding edge and fairly close to the same, the hinge portion Id of the covers being similarly punched or drilled to have holes which will register with those in the leaves so that when the book is cased-in, the metal posts or plugs 45 may be inserted in these laterally extending holes 41 with their respective keyed or recessed end portions 46 exposed for engagement with the backbone material.

In this condition, the book form is inserted in the mold as in Fig. 2, and the backbone is cast-on in the manner previously described, the moulding material entering and gripping or looking with the portions 46 of the plugs, so that the leaves are bound to the backbone as by stringers or post binders. Obviously, the posts or plugs may be curved to provide a ring type of binder, where 'this form is desired.

Having thus described a preferred form and means for carrying out the invention and achieving the several objects heretofore stated, it is expressly to be understood as a condition of the disclosure, that I do not intend to be limited to any specific details of construction or method or materials, nor to any specific form or location of parts, in the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device in the nature of. a book and comprising a stack of leaves, keying means engaged in said leaves along an edge portion of said stack, and a binding backbone moulded onto said edge portion over said keyingmeans and cooperable with the latter means to bind said leaves in book form.

2. A book comprising gathered leaves having a plurality of cut-out binding formations disposed along the binding edge thereof with binding inserts disposed therein, and a substantially rigid backbone moulded onto said bonding edge with portions of said inserts imbedded therein, whereby said backbone and leaves are securely bound together.

3. A book including a group of leaves provided with registered cut-out formations along the binding edge of the book and having binding elements inserted in said cut-out formations, said binding elements extending into said group at opposite inclinations away from said edge, and a binding member of mouldable material cast-on said edge and forming a substantially rigid homogeneous mass with portions of said binding elements moulded securely and immovably therein, whereby said leaves are secured as a group to said binding member.

4. A book comprising leaves gathered in book form and having a plurality of slots formed laterally across the binding edge of the form and divergently inclined into the latter, there being a binding insert disposed in each of said slots with edge portions exposed in the region of said binding edge, and a substantially rigid backbone cast-onto and over said binding edge and firmly gripping said exposed edge portions of the inserts so that the latter are held substantially immovable relative to the backbone and co-act with the latter to secure said leaves thereto.

5. A book including leaves arranged in book form and provided with lateral slots extending laterally across the binding edge of the form and into the latter at opposite oblique inclinations, key members each having an oblique tongue and fitted on said edge with their tongue portions each projecting into one of said slots, and a rigid backbone of thermoplastic material pressed onto and around said binding edge and into intimate gripping engagement with said key members so as to hold the latter immovably relative to the backbone and secure the leaves against separation from said backbone.

6. A book comprising a stack of leaves, one edge of the stack having oppositely inclined lateral slots spaced therealong and extending at oblique inclinations into the stack, each of said slots having inserted therein a substantially rigid key-plate member with portions exposed in the outer margins of the slots, and a substantially rigid backbone of solidified mouldable material formed on said edge and immovably gripping said exposed edge portions of the several keyplate members, said leaves being held firmly attached tosaid backbone by virtue of the aforesaid opposite inclination of the key-plate members in the slots.

'7. A folio device comprising sheets folded and arranged in signatures gathered in book form and having oppositely pitched lateral notches along one edge of the form and extending in an oblique sense into the same, and keys in the form of substantially flat, rigid, pieces inserted in each of said notches with edge portions exposed in the outer marginal region of the notches, and a backbone shell of solidified mouldable material moulded onto said edge of the form with said exposed edge portions of the keys imbedded therein to secure the keys against displacement relative thereto, said leaves and signatures being bound to the backbone by virtue of the opposite inclination of said keys in said notches.

8. A bound book including leaves arranged in a book form and having oppositely inclined lateral slots along the binding edge thereof and extending obliquely into the form, and rigid keys fitted over said binding edge and each having an obliquely extending tongue projecting into one of said slots, and a substantially inflexible backbone member of a hardened or rigidified mouldable material laid onto said binding edge and the keys thereon, said keys having portions securely embraced by said mouldable material and preventing relative movement and separation of the key members therefrom, said tongue portions of the key memberssecuring the leaves to the backbone in a manner to give the appearance of an edition bound book.

9. A bound article in the nature of a book and including gathered leaves or sheets arranged to provide a binding edge along which are formed cut-out areas having inserts disposed therein, said inserts being constructed, when secured to a rigid backbone member extending along said binding edge, to hold said leaves or sheets securely in gathered relation, and a substantially rigid backbone member of a mouldable substance formed in its plastic or mouldable state onto said edge and inserts and subsequently hardened or rigidified, whereby said inserts are inseparably gripped in. the backbone for the purpose aforesaid.

10. In a book of the type having leaves bound along one edge by means of a plurality of binding key members inserted in openings formed in the leaves: along said one edge, binding means including key inserts inserted in the openings aforesaid and secured to a backbone of set or rigidified mouldable material which has been formed on said one edge over said inserts with the latter having portions firmly imbedded in said mouldable material in such manner that when said material has set or hardened as aforesaid, said inserts are held inseparably from the backbone.

11. A book-like article including a gathering of leaves or sheets bound along one edge by spaced inserts extending laterally through said gathering close to said edge, and a substantially 1 rigid backbone formed on said one edge by moulding thereon a plastic or mouldable substance of a type adapted to set or harden and which flows into intimate gripping engagement with portions of said inserts in the region of their lateral extremities, whereby said inserts are firmly embedded in said backbone to secure the leaves thereto.

12. A book including a stack of leaves bound along one edge by oppositely inclined key inserts extending into said stack and having opposite edge portions exposed on opposite sides of the stack adjoining said edge of the latter, and a backbone of rigidified mouldable material formed on said edge and inseparably and immovably engaging said exposed edge parts of the inserts, whereby said leaves are bound to the backbone.

13. A book including a stack of leaves bound along one edge by substantially flat inserts projecting obliquely into said stack in contrary directions with opposite edge parts exposed on opposite sides of the stack adjoining said one edge of the latter, said exposed edge parts of the inserts having inwardly flared notches therein, and a backbone of hardened mouldable material formed on said one edge of the stack with rigid portions locked in said notches of the inserts, whereby the inserts are held immovably in said backbone to secure said leaves thereto.

14. A book including a stack of leaves bound along one edge by keys each having surface portions fitting substantially flush against said stack edge and each having a tongue portion projecting obliquely into said stack and in opposite inclination to another of said tongues, and a backbone of solidified mouldable material formed-on said one edge of the stack with exposed portions of said keys.immovably imbedded therein.

15. A book including a stack of leaves bound along one edge by tongue elements extended obliquely into said edge laterally across the same and in opposite oblique directions, and a shelllike backbone of rigidified plastic material pressed around said stack edge with portions of said tongue elements immovably embedded therein, whereby said leaves are securely bound to the backbone.

-16. A book including a stack of leaves bound along one edge by substantially elongated insert plugs extended laterally through the stack in spaced openings provided through said stack close to said edge thereof, said insert plugs having opposite exposed end portions extending somewhat beyond the stack, and a backbone of rigidified moulding substance moulded around said stack edge with said exposed end portions of the plugs securely embedded therein.

17. A book including a stack of leaves bound along one edge between a pair of covers having a hinge which fits around said edge, there being inserts extended into said leaves through said hinge and constructed so as to prevent separation of the leaves from the inserts when the latter are secured to a binder on said stack edge, and a backbone binder of solidly integrated mouldable material formed around said edge and the hinge thereon with portions of said inserts securely embedded therein.

ROBERT ALONZO WILLIAMS. 

